Learn more about the latest in new battery technology and discover the next generation in battery and energy storage with expert analysis by Power Systems Research analysts.
Chinese Scientists May Have Created Powerful Lithium Metal Battery.Researchers at Tianjin University reportedly have made a battery with an energy density of over 600 watt-hours per kilogram, twice as much energy as Tesla’s most advanced electric vehicle battery. Energy density, the amount of energy stored per unit mass, determines how much power is stored in a device.
PSR Analysis: Lithium metal batteries are known to have a higher theoretical energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries and are considered a promising next-generation solution. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry says it will support the development of an industry-wide system for sharing information on the degradation status of EV batteries. Toyota and Honda will provide battery-related data to used car dealers, insurance companies and others. The aim is to prevent the export of used EVs overseas and enable the domestic utilization of batteries containing critical minerals.
Currently, battery degradation is difficult to assess, resulting in low trade-in prices for used EVs in the domestic market. The fact that approximately 80% were exported overseas was a cause for concern.
Researchers at McGill University in Canada have increased a battery’s energy density by adding a rare-earth metal to an anode.
The scientists added a small amount of neodymium (Nd) to the anode in a bid to increase its energy density without compromising safety. This resulted in a 19% increase in energy density.
In September 2024 the Maersk McKinney Møller Center produced a pre-feasibility study on battery-powered vessels. The report identified battery-hybrid propulsion as an essential part of shipping’s decarbonization toolkit. It demonstrates a clear understanding that batteries offer significant efficiency gains over internal combustion and that partial electrification can sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution.
Mitsubishi Logisnext plans to increase the electrification rate of its forklifts from approximately 60% to 90% by 2035. The company has its roots in Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and it specializes in high-output engine vehicles. However, the global electrification rate has already surpassed 70%, with Chinese companies leading the way in technology. To catch up, the company is introducing new models in China that align with the trend toward electrification.
“The price of lithium-ion batteries has dropped, which has led to increased customer demand for electric forklifts,” said President Maeno of Mitsubishi Logisnext. He highlighted the need to expand the company’s product lineup to meet market needs. As part of this strategy, the company plans to introduce a locally produced electric vehicle model in China by the 2025 fiscal year. The key feature is thorough “localization.” The company has adopted locally sourced batteries, motors, hydraulic components, and other parts to reduce prices to levels comparable to those of Chinese manufacturers. Until now, the company has sold vehicles developed in Japan but has struggled against low-priced local competitors. In China, battery prices have fallen rapidly due to the increased popularity of electric vehicles (EVs). Mitsubishi Logisnext has adopted a “when in Rome, do as the Romans do” strategy to counter this trend. Depending on sales performance, the company plans to expand into markets such as Southeast Asia.
In the July 2025 issue of the Alternative Power Report produced by Power Systems Research, you’ll find articles on Repsol canceling its 200MW green hydrogen project, Citing technical and economic barriers; Ethiopia updating its ICE vehicle import ban, including SKD and CKD kits; the discovery of a rare-earth metal that increases battery energy density, and the discovery of a new zinc-ion battery that promises a longer lifespan. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
The May 2025 issue of the Alternative Power Report contains articles on Volvo’s launch of the world’s first electric articulated Hauler, Aeson Power’s new sodium battery products, the IMO votes on the first-ever global carbon price on shipping, and a report on CATL’s next generation batteries. Read it all here. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
The April 2025 issue of Guy Youngs’ Alternative Power Report presents articles on Tesla sales and other activities. It also contains several reports on battery development . PSR
LG Energy Solution, a major company in South Korea, has withdrawn its investment plan for a materials factory. The company cited a slowdown in the electric vehicle (EV) market and a diminishing competitive advantage in Indonesia, where nickel is widely produced, as reasons for the decision.
Battery production involves processes from material manufacturing to productization, and the withdrawn plans included the construction of a nickel smelter for the main cathode material, as well as the production of cathode precursors and other materials.
The rising demand for zero-emission mobility goes beyond the nice idea of preventing a catastrophic climate crisis. EVs are a better fit for the connected, electrified lifestyle of the 21st century; they offer more opportunities for convenience, they are more useful for weathering power outages and climate-connected emergencies, and they are more adaptable to the needs of fleet managers, among other advantages.
However, while some researchers note that “salt batteries” are not quite ready for prime time, other stakeholders — including industry leader CATL — are already laying plans for mass production. Last month, CATL also burned up the Internet when it announced a suite of two sodium-ion batteries ready for full volume production by the end of this year.
